Goodnight Kloe

From the Illustrator of Doodle Space! Short Dream Stories and Pen Illustrations © 2020 D. Alajar, All rights reserved

[goodnightkloe]

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NOTICE

Update 12.5.20: Release of new Scenes/Chapters will be on every 15th and 30th of the month. Thanks for your patience, I am also attending other responsibilities, and also I am updating my other art accounts. But I appreciate your love for Goodnight Kloe. This will be a long-term project. I'm grateful for having you on my writing journey. 😊

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Sweetdreams!

[goodnightkloe]

Scene 7: The Toymaker Dream

November 18, 1925

It's almost a week since the burial of my late sister Narra. I asked my mom if I can still sleep on her bed and she allowed me to do so. That very night I met a villain.

I found a house in the middle of a forest, it was already dark. The light coming from the huge window glass was mesmerizing. To my surprise, the house is a toy store, the toy display on the window attracted me to come inside. I was so happy to see my favorite toys, wishing I could have them.

I knocked on the door and a man in a fancy suit opened it. He welcomed me warmly, he is a good looking man, well-mannered, and tall. He gave me a tour of the toy store. I love that night.

"My name is Edvard. May I know your name?" He asked.

"I'm Kloe."

"That's a sweet name! I thought you would like this one," Edvard showed me a teddy bear.

"Yeah, I like it. All the toys here are amazing!"

"Thank you, I am the one who makes them." He proudly said. Then he moved away and continued talking, "I know toys make every kid, like you, happy. Toys ignite the imagination, it introduces creativity, and it makes us feel satisfied. Toys are better friends. They won't leave you, they will stay with you. You can be happy alone with them not needing anyone. If they get broken they will not be angry at you. You may forsake them, but toys will not forsake you as humans do."

I was listening as it seems to me he changed. He uttered words of bitterness in life and friends. But he became calm, his joyfulness returned.

"I would like to give you this bear toy as a token of appreciation. I think you shouldn't carry that pillow with you. Why are you carrying a pillow, by the way? You look great having this toy with you instead."

"Thank you, Sir, but I cannot accept that toy. Besides, this is the pillow of my sister, this is important to me."

"That makes me sad, it's a gift that you refuse. You can always get a pillow, but this toy is special. It wouldn't leave you, you will not feel lonely again. I can see in your eyes the sorrow. This is the one you need. Take it. This toy is yours."

I felt something strange looking at the toy. I know I shouldn't give him Narra's pillow, but I was so tempted to get the toy and cure my loneliness.

I gave Edvard the pillow and he gave me the toy. The toy bear came to life and started to growl and turned aggressive against me. I threw it away. I saw Edvard laughing at me with a sinister face. I made a mistake, I shouldn't trust him.

"Did you know what is this pillow? I know you didn't, it's power. A power to conquer was in your hands all this time, and now it's mine!" He mocked me and laughed hard. Then he raised his hands, large toys from shelves came to life and stood on his side.

"This pillow is the portal to the Nightmare Realm. Never thought I could touch this. I can now conquer the Dream World and rule everything in it! The Akumu is looking for it! But now the power is mine!"

I can't understand what's going on, and what he was saying. I was so afraid. Never thought Narra's pillow would have some kind of power.

The toys attacked me but I ran towards the door. Enemies are everywhere, they blocked every exit. One toy tackled me hard, I was so hurt. I stood and fled wherever I can find a place to hide.

.....

I hid in a room and locked it. The toys struck the door, they are determined to get me. I knew they could break the door anytime. I tried to look around and think. I saw a small window above. I climbed on the table then to the cabinet. I opened the small window and learned it leads to the factory. The window is higher on the factory side, I hesitated to jump. However, I heard the toys broke the door and I left no choice but to jump and I fell on sacks of cotton.

I saw a cabinet in the factory and I hid inside it. The toys rushed to the factory and inspected everything. They swarmed the place. I was frightened, I pulled my hair to wake up, but nothing happened.

There was a light entering the cabinet's uneven doors. It casts to a large bear in front of me. The stuffed toy was unfinished and lifeless. I removed some cotton inside before I clothed the teddy bear to myself. I grasped an enemy toy was approaching the cabinet. It opened the door and saw me. I thought it would hurt me; however, it just walked away. I moved out from the cabinet and I found out they can't recognize me anymore wearing this teddy bearskin.

I escaped the factory to find Edvard and to retrieve Narra's pillow. For every inch of the house, large toys were moving which I am certain were looking for me. I saw a toy entered a room and I followed it inside. The room is Edvard's and attendant toys were lurking and I moved inside discreetly. I approached his bed, he is laying with Narra's pillow on his head. He couldn't sleep and was very anxious.

He stood and screamed, "Get rid of her! This pillow will not submit to me if she is still alive!" He went back to bed to lay his head on Narra's pillow.

While Edvard was laying on his side, I crawled and went on the opposite side of the bed to pull the pillow. He sensed me crawling on his bed, he pushed me. I fell from the bed and I saw his pocketwatch fell too. He immediately moved to get the pocketwatch. I rushed to grab it and I was successful. I saw Edvard's face showing disbelief and fear. He violently ran towards me. I crawled in fear but the toys approached me. I couldn't escape it, I curled to cover myself. But the toys attacked Edvard and he fought back. He fled limping from the room carrying Narra's pillow. I followed Edvard and I saw the toys chasing him. He was being attacked by mobs of toys.

I learned the toys obey whoever holds the pocketwatch. I ordered the toys to capture Edvard. He was overwhelmed and hurt badly, he abandoned the pillow and escape.

I cried as I sat in front of Narra's pillow. I went outside and I was shocked to see Edvard laying unconscious on the ground, in front of the Riddle Man.

I woke up in this strange dream. What was stranger was having the pocketwatch in my hand. I kept the pocketwatch up to this day. This proved that my nightmares are real.

[goodnightkloe]

Scene 6: The Wish of the Fish Dream

November 17, 1925

I could hear the sound of a flowing river, and grass tickling my face. It was a moment I knew I wasn't in my bed again. I wish my dreams were just ordinary, quick, forgettable. I can't complain about something uncontrollable. Wishing I could turn back the time or comprehend this strangeness.

I wandered on the beautiful riverside but I was stopped by a water splash. A huge fish caught my attention, it swam close to me so it could talk.

"Hey little kid, those are nice feet."

"Um. . . thanks."

"I wish I have feet too, I want to walk as humans do."

"It's nice to have feet, I can go anywhere I like. But I like what you do, I wish I could swim too."

"You can learn to swim anytime you want. For fishes, we can't learn how to walk."

We talked as I continued walking on the riverside while the fish swam to follow me.

"Can I ask a favor?"

"Hmm about what?"

"There's a rare berry on that path. Legend said no one would pick to eat that berry because it's stinky. But any fish that would eat that berry can be granted with feet!"

"Really?"

"Yes, so help me. Just pick one for me so I can eat it. Let's see if the legend is true."

I walked the path where the berries can be found. I picked some and they are indeed smelly. I returned to the fish to feed him the berries. The berries were consumed immediately and the fish suddenly submerged, I thought it died or left me. Moments later, the fish emerged having human-like legs. I felt proud to see the fish happily walked on land. Excited it is, the fish ran on a path, I followed, but I lost sight of it.

I kept finding then I heard someone gasping. The fish was exhausted and sitting on a rock.

"What happened?"

"Please help me return to the river. Too much air will kill me." The fish begged then he passed out.

I was so worried, I called for help. I tried to pull the fish but it was so heavy.

A villager arrived and he was shocked by the fish. "That's impossible, a fish has feet!" He yelled.

The villager helped me by lifting the fish on his shoulder.

"We should carry him to the river immediately!" I pleaded.

The villager agreed. We walked to the path, and another villager arrived. Surprised as they are, they whisper something to each other. They proceeded walking in other direction.

"No, the river is there!" I shouted as I became suspicious.

"There is another river there, it's safer." The second villager asserted.

They rush and I followed them. At a distance, there was a carriage approaching. The two villagers blocked the way to stop the carriage. They talked to the coachman in a foreign language, seems they agreed on something. The villagers put my friend fish on the carriage and then they both rode in it.

I was about to ride, but the other villager prevented me by pushing me. The carriage moved away fast. It was heartbreaking. I sat on a rock, alone, sobbing.

_____

[goodnightkloe]

Scene 5: The Prisoner Dream

November 16, 1925

I got up as I recovered. There was a whisper from a man somewhat calling me. But what was bothering me was the unbearable and unexplainable smell of the place. I was in a dim room that was lit by a fair light above. And I knew it was in the middle of the night.

"Little woman, Little woman." The man called.

"Who are you?"

"I should be the one to ask you that, Little Woman. Who are you?"

"I'm Kloe." It was clear to me now that the man is in a prison and he was watching me between the thin steel bars. "Who are you, then?"

"I'm Dononigo."

I learned something strange about this man. He is a giant in a small cage. He needs to curl because the ceiling is too low. I couldn't forget his odd face, thick smiling lip, and huge eyes that don't blink.

"Why are you calling me?"

"I need the key. It's in that small hole on the wall."

"I should not do that, you are a prisoner!"

"I should be in prison Little Woman, so give me the key."

I refused. I walked away but I couldn't go any farther as I soon realized there is only but three walls and the bars. Nervous, I slowly look at the man. Behind him is the corridor, and I was the prisoner.

Dononigo called me again pointing his finger to the hole.

"Little Woman Kloe, get the key, they are coming!"

I hurriedly get the key and gave it to Dononigo. He paused as his face became serious. He looked at the corridor. I thought I was betrayed.

"When I unlock the door. You should hide on that wall. When the guard left you should go that way." He instructed.

I can't understand why Dononigo will go back to prison and let me out. "Why are you freeing me?" I curiously asked.

He was surprised. "It's my prison cell, it's my home. This is where I belong until I paid all my sins."

"What are you doing outside?"

"I don't know. I was about to rest here in my cell then I found myself laying on the grass outside. So I returned, I still have to serve the remaining 400 years. What are you doing inside my cell?"

Dononigo heard something, he opened the prison and he let me out. He gave me the key so I can lock the door from the outside then I returned him the key. I hid behind a wall. The prison guard brought food for Dononigo and left.

He didn't eat. I saw him lay on the dirty floor and gave a blank gaze, between the bars, in my direction. It seems he slept but his eyes were open.

____

[goodnightkloe]

Scene 4: The Trapped-in-a-Bottle Dream

November 15, 1925

My eyes opened and I saw distorted sceneries of what appears to be mountains. I thought my eyes were just blurry. As I regain consciousness, I found out I was trapped in a glass bottle.

I started to scream and knock on the glass wall. But no one was there. I was so confused and afraid. I sat down and I cried.

I could see the sun moving fast above me. And I continued to shout for help and punch the glass.

Suddenly, I noticed something moving at a distance. As it approached the bottle glass its appearance became clear - it's a big rat. The rat looked at me through the glass and inspected the surrounding.

I tried to catch the rat's attention. "Can you please help me? I'm trapped!" I begged.

"It's your fault." The rat smirked, and it ran away.

I got so scared. But the rat returned and still looking mad at me.

"Help me please!" I pleaded.

"No, it's your fault, not mine." The rat refused, and it ran again somewhere.

I thought the rat would not come back. But he appeared again and inspected the glass.

"Why wouldn't help me?"

"Why? Because it's your fault, not mine!" The rat angered. The rat gestured to hurt me though I was inside the bottle glass. He ran away until I couldn't see him.

Moments later, I saw the rat running but he is not alone, a wild cat chasing him. The rat approached the glass and pushed it hard. The bottle fell on its side and I was hurt. The last thing I know the rat rolled the glass, then I saw him being eaten by the wild cat.

The bottle glass and I rolled fast on the rocky slope. Then the bottle hit a huge stone and it got shattered.

_____

[goodnightkloe]

Scene 3: The NeverEnding Cliff Dream

November 14, 1925

I opened my eyes and saw myself on a cliff. I screamed in fear, but I realized I'm stuck in vines. What is in front of me is endless water, seems like an ocean. The water is green like moss, and the scenery is foggy. Just below the cliff, I can see large creatures moving beneath the surface of the water.

I moved out carefully from the vines and I turned facing the wall rock. I slowly moved sideways and I followed the narrow path of the cliff. I keep my balance, I hold on to some rocks while I carry Narra's pillow with my other hand. I felt tired moving sideways, the cliff seems neverending.

I stopped for a moment to get some rest when I heard a hissing sound behind me. I turned my head to the other side and saw a snake. I was so shocked I almost lost my balance.

The snake began to speak, "You should jump now."

"No. I won't!"

"There is no other way. It's endless, whether you go further that path or you climb up. It's endless. It's pointless." The snake said.

"No! Get lost!"

I began moving and followed the path. I feel exhausted and thirsty. The snake is nonetheless following me. The sky is getting dark.

The snake blocked my path and persuades, "Start jumping Kloe!"

I became angry. I closed my eyes, I grabbed the snake and I threw it off the cliff. Then I began to move again.

The path appears endless and I got so weak. Now, I started to realize the snake could be right. The snake doesn't tell me to give up. Maybe it was just trying to help.

I breathed deeply. And I jumped from the cliff. I fell so slow until my feet gently touched the waters below.

[goodnightkloe]

Scene 2: The Crying Onion Dream

November 13, 1925

I opened my eyes and I could see a fat man cooking. The kitchen looks so messy. Blood splattered from meat is everywhere. The fat man talks gibberish. He is alone and the house is only lit by a dim lightbulb.

I get up and figured out I am so small, maybe the size of a matchbox. Then I saw an Onion running on the floor and escaping from the kitchen. It hid in a rat hole. I followed the Onion when I saw the fat man move and appears to find something fallen on the floor.

"Who are you?" Asked by the Onion.

"My name is Kloe, I saw you running and I followed you. What is this place?"

"Did you saw that creature? He is going to kill me. He killed my friends! He killed Potato, and the Garlic!"

The Onion weeps. I comfort him by wiping his tears.

"My mother is also cooking vegetables, like potatoes and garlics, and On-" I stopped as I realized I shouldn't have said that.

The Onion got angry. He pushed me and I fell on the ground. He picked some stones and threw it at me while yelling "Monsters!"

I grabbed my pillow and ran outside the hole and the Onion chased me, still throwing stones and uttering insults. As we got out I saw the fat man above us, he picked the Onion and started to laugh. The Fatman returned to the kitchen. I heard the Onion screaming and then it stopped.

[goodnightkloe]

Goodnight Kloe | Chapter 1

Scene 1: The Riddle Man Dream

The succeeding pages of my Grandma's notebook have short writings that were divided by a hand-drawn line and a date, some seem undated. And the first one reads:

___________________

November 12, 1925

My eyes slowly opened and there was nothing but darkness. There are dry leaves beneath me and I have some kind of mud all over my clothes. And I could feel my sister's pillow beside me. I thought I am blind but I tried to stand, and I gradually see the surroundings - I am in the forest.

I began to walk, holding my pillow tight. I'm so confused. I don't know where I am, I want to cry for help. Then, a man appeared through the darkness, and he approached me. The man is so tall, wearing a black suit and a hat. He looks so pale and slender. He kneeled in front of me and gave a blank stare.

I asked the man, "Help me, I am lost."

But the man replied with a riddle: "You hate me when you're a kid. You need me when you grew up. You are afraid of me when you're too old. What am I?"

Whatever I said, the man kept saying the same riddle.

I started to get afraid and I ran away from the man. I ran so fast but I feel him behind me.

The forest began to collapse and turned even darker. At a distance, I could see a woman standing in the darkness. She looks like a goat, her eyes are red and glowing. She flies towards me, she is dangerous.

I looked at her eyes, and I feel I couldn't breathe. The woman took the pillow from me. She was about to grab me to my head when suddenly the riddle man arrived. He struggled with the woman and got the pillow. The riddle man took me in his arms and we fled from the woman.

[goodnightkloe]

Goodnight Kloe | Prologue

Prologue

My grandma died peacefully on the night of the 14th of August 1996, she was 80 years old. Her life had been so meaningful, having two daughters and a son. My grandpa died when my mother was 13 years old, he died during his sleep.

I have had a lot of memories with my grandma, and one thing I always remember about her was her keen interest in my dreams. She wanted me to tell her about them. I told her my dreams were about getting toys, sometimes places, and others. Some of my dreams were terrifying. Dreams are so random anyway.

My grandma's memory was sharp even though she was old. I love her stories, and I used to think they were all based on a children's book. But I learned it was from her imagination, and I always admire those tales. I missed her so much.

Some months after she died, my mother and I cleaned her house as we plan to move there permanently. My grandparent's house is old but big for the four of us in the family.

One Saturday afternoon, I was tasked by my mom to clean a cabinet in my grandparents' room. It has a huge collection of thick notebooks, which I thought were books. Something tells me to read it after I cleaned all the dust. And I started to take the very first notebook from the left, and I scanned the pages. It is a very old notebook, full of grandma's handwriting, sort of a diary. The cover has her name, Clementia, but we used to call her Mama Kloe. I read the first page, the date was July 1, 1928, my grandma was 12 years old at that time. Though she was young, I'm impressed with how neat her penmanship back then. I began to read:

"People start their day with a morning full of hope. While me, my journey starts at night. I always thought something is wrong with me. And I am still trying to learn to accept it. I hid everything from everyone what is this world I have discovered. When I fall asleep, I wake up in this strange world of dreams.

I decided to write all my dreams, as they are still vivid in my memories, and I believe they are real. Just as I thought, some nightmares . . . do come true."

I paused for a moment and had some recollections of my Grandma. Those writings gave me goosebumps. But I resumed:

"I had my first experience with this strange world on the day of the burial of my older sister Narra. Narra died due to an accident. Her death was so painful and unexpected. Until now I can't still accept it. My mother and I slept in Narra's room that night and we cried together. My mother fell asleep while I reminisce with the comfort of having the pillow of my sister beneath my head. I still smell her hair, and I imagined she was beside me. I fell asleep, and something strange changed my life."